What Happened With USC at Oregon State??

The USC team that went into Reser Stadium at Oregon State frankly stunk up the place.  When I saw USC destroy Virginia in game one, they looked like they were in mid-season form.  Then I saw them throttle the Buckeyes and it looked like they were in late season form. 

I realize everyone can have a bad game, but USC had no business, even on a bad game, losing to Stanford last year.  And it had no business losing to Oregon State tonight.

Oregon State was beaten convincingly by Stanford and absolutely smashed by Penn State.  The only game they had won was against lowly Hawaii.

So what has happened to the Trojans?  This isn't an article where I am pretending to shed some great insight.  I really don't know.  But I have a few observations and theories so I'm going to throw them out here.

While USC's defense stunk in the first half, they adjusted at halftime and held Oregon State scoreless until the offense threw an interception allowing Oregon State to start on the USC two yard line.  So for the sake of argument, we'll assume USC's defense, even after stinking it up for a half, only yielded 21 real points.  On the road and with the offense USC should have, that's doing their job and that should win the game.

I didn't see any special teams breakdowns.  The bad punts were courtesy of Oregon State.  The kick coverage was good all night for the Trojans.  They even blocked a field goal.

Therefore, I think the problem is on offense.  I heard the announcers say that Oregon State had replaced seven of their defensive starters.  So why can't USC score on them at will rather than only having 14 before desperation set in?  That's a good question.  Steve Sarkisian just isn't Norm Chow (or that good of an offensive coordinator for that matter).

The USC offense gave up 2 turnovers (to none for Oregon State)—one by fumble and one by interception.  But even without those mistakes (which both happened to lead to scores), USC just wasn't getting it done on offense. 

There is no reason that even a veteran defense (which Oregon State's is not) should have been able to constantly be in the face of the USC QB all night long.  It wasn't every now and then.  It was all night.  He got so used to having defenders after him that he was scrambling before he even needed to as a proactive measure.

I just don't understand the inconsistency.  In the 3rd quarter, they looked like a changed team playing with fire and intensity.  It began to look like the blowout we were all expecting just came a half late.  USC got the ball seven times in the second half.  They scored on the first two and then started getting whipped on the line for all but one of the remaining drives.

But the inconsistency is larger than in one game.  Last year they lost to Stanford.  STANFORD!  But yet they beat speedy up-and-coming Illinois like yard dogs.  This year they beat a veteran and talented Ohio State all over the field and then in the next game, they lose to a 1-2 Oregon State team. 

The year before last, they lost to a very mediocre UCLA team that would go on to fire their coach the following season for continuing to be very mediocre.  Why the inconsistency when they are head and shoulders the most talented team year in and year out? 

USC has had top five recruiting classes for the last 6-7 years.  Yet, in all of that time, they won one BCS title...the same number as Ohio State.  The Buckeyes are faulted (rightfully so) for not being able to win the big game.  At least Ohio State does save their losses for the college football superpowers.  USC finds a way to be Goliath to teams that they should be toying with.

Is Mark Sanchez just not as good as advertised?  I know he played well against Ohio State but thanks to Ohio State breakdowns and turnovers, he had the luxury of playing from ahead the whole night. 

Would another QB be better?  I know Mustain threw an interception in every game he played at Arkansas, but the Razorbacks also won all those games and most were against SEC teams. 

Sometimes the starter wins the job because his fundamentals are better and he shines in practice, but he really isn't a good game time QB.  Perhaps that is true with Sanchez.  Corp is unproven.  I think I might try Mustain if I were coaching USC.

Other than the offensive coordinator and possibly the QB, what's wrong?  Do the USC players have a problem being motivated for lesser opponents?  Is Pete Carroll overrated as a coach?  It boggles the mind how they keep losing to inferior opponents. 

I realize when you spend your life camped in the top five, most opponents are inferior but Stanford?  Oregon State TWICE??  UCLA?  Can anyone shed any light?